welfare of the Institute. As early as 1882, a graduate, Henry
P. Armsby, '71, had appeared on the Commencement platform to speak in
behalf of the alumni. Three years later the Alumni Association
requested and gained representation on the board of examiners. Then,
in 1891, one of the fondest hopes of alumni was realized when Charles
G. Washburn, '75, was elected to the Board of Trustees. He had served
as president of the Alumni Association since 1885 and, despite his
annual protests, was reelected until 1894.

Alumni suppers were annual events of increasing interest and
duration. They were held usually at the Bay State House and were
preceded by business sessions, which oftentimes were adjourned until
after supper. Guests included members of the faculty and
trustees. Beginning in 1888, the members of the graduating class were
also included among the guests.

Samuel N. Jennison, '71, served as secretary of the Association from
its beginning in 1873 until 1889, when he was succeeded by John
F. Kyes, '76. In 1892, William L. Chase, '77, took over the duties of
secretary. Longest service to the Association was that given by Edward
K. Hill, '71, its treasurer from 1879 to 1898. His annual reports were
often made to balance by an item "Amount due the Treasurer. " Such
deficits were usually made up by assessments on members. The
organization was rather informal up to 1891, when a new constitution
and by-laws were adopted and the Association was incorporated as a
Massachusetts corporation, May 20, 1891. Three years of discussion
preceded this move. In 1891 the Association elected as its first
honorary member a young man whose friendship for the Institute had
been constant since boyhood and who later was to become one of its
most vigorous trustees - James Logan.

The business discussed at the annual meetings included means of aiding
the Institute both in its educational program and in
finances. Beginning in 1886, two alumni were designated as a visiting
committee for each Institute department. The following year and for
many years thereafter each